Norwich Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing a Short-Barreled Rifle

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Benjamin Wheeler, age 19, of Norwich, New York pled guilty today in federal court in Utica to possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig. L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

As part of his guilty plea today, Wheeler admitted that on August 6, 2024, the defendant knowingly possessed a "Spikes Tactical" AR-15 style rifle at his apartment in Norwich, New York, knowing that the firearm had a barrel length of less than sixteen inches. The firearm was not registered to the defendant in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law.

Sentencing for his conviction for possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle is scheduled for February 12, 2025, in Utica, New York, at which time Wheeler faces a maximum sentence of up to 10-years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New York Police Department (NYPD) and the New York State Police with assistance from the Chenango County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown is prosecuting the case.